Books published by publisher Speaking Tiger Books

Brilliant retellings of some of the world's and India's earliest stories, beloved by children and adults alike for over 2,000 years. In a small forest, a hare convinces his friends--a monkey, a jackal and a water-weasel--to share their food with the hungry. But when the hare finds nothing to eat, and a fairy disguised as an old man comes asking for food, what does the hare do? The king of monkeys asks his tribe to keep the delicious mangoes in their forest a secret from humans. But what happens when Brhmadatta, the king of humans, discovers the fruit and wants more of it? A king spots the mysterious and beautiful deer, Sarabha, deep in the woods. He wishes to capture it but falls into a deep chasm on the way. Will Sarabha rescue him? The twenty stories in Great Jataka Tales, retold by the remarkable writer Noor Inayat Khan, have been drawn from the Buddha's former lives and the legends around him. These tales bring alive a world from long, long ago: a world that shows the importance of courage, compassion, non-violence and love. Written in simple, dramatic prose and beautifully illustrated in full colour, these magical stories will enchant a new generation of readers.

Heartfelt poems and engaging stories for and about children by one of the greatest writers of Indian literature.In The Crescent Moon, Rabindranath Tagore brings alive the world of a child--in some poems he describes the simple joys of children at play, while in others, he feels the bonds of affection between mother and child, and in yet others, he expresses wonder at the earthly beauty all around us. Also included here are some of his most thought-provoking stories with themes that are relevant for children. In 'The Kabuliwalla' little Minnie becomes friendly with a burly Afghan man, but will she remember him when he returns after many years? 'The Parrot's Tale' is an allegory about the perils of the modern system of education, and 'The Kingdom of Cards', set in a fantasy land of cards, is a powerful statement against the stifling of freedom of any kind.Playful, innocent and full of tender love, with themes that will resonate with readers who are young and old, The Crescent Moon--with a thoughtful introduction by Ruskin Bond--is truly an enduring classic.

A selection of the most thrilling detective stories ever written by the master storyteller.Sherlock Holmes, the world’s cleverest detective, sets forth in this collection of six extraordinary stories to solve some of the most intriguing cases of his career. What was the mysterious ‘speckled band’ that a woman referred to with her dying breath? What do the dancing men signify and why do they bring death in their wake? Is there really a league of red-headed men, or is it a conspiracy so audacious that only Holmes can sense it? Will Sherlock Holmes meet his end at the hands of the evil Professor Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls?The cases of Sherlock Holmes have held readers spellbound ever since they were first published. In 1927, the stories in this volume were chosen by the author himself as some of the best he had written. Introduced here by Ruskin Bond, The Very Best of Sherlock Holmes presents the great detective in all his brilliant glory for a new generation of readers.

'Here is a fine collection of escape hatches arrayed in front of you: all open, all leading far away from this reality. Why not climb through one and see where it takes you?'What if machines meant to help humans took over their owners? Or if unending traffic jams forced Swedish detectives to levitate around the Indian city of Bluru? How did the deadly cyclone in the Bay of Bengal that had everyone on tenterhooks suddenly calm down? What does one do when killer zombies launch an attack in Chennai or when eager-to-please musical creatures refuse to go back into their pods? And did the giant Tetrahedron appear on the streets of New Delhi to help people see beyond their present reality?Alternate worlds and futures--or pasts--have never seemed as full of potential or as visionary as in these stories by some of the best storytellers in the country, including Manjula Padmanabhan, Jerry Pinto, Vandana Singh, Srinath Perur, Rashmi Ruth Devadasan, J.C. Bose, Indra Das, Shalini Srinivasan, Zac O'Yeah, Sunando C. and Vinayak Varma. Satirical, humorous and thought-provoking, these mindboggling stories will amaze you with their depth of imagination and are a must-read for all sci-fi lovers!

A delightful novel about growing up in Shillong in the 1980s by the bestselling author of Bali and the Ocean of Milk and The Case of the Secretive Sister When fourteen-year-old Debojit Dutta meets the slightly older Clint Eastwood Lyngdoh in his maths tuition classes, he is wary of his cigarette-smoking, whisky-swilling ways. Besides, Debu has only recently escaped a bunch of local ruffians who wanted him to 'go back home to Bangladesh'.But Debu is unable to resist being friends with Clint. For, in return for doing his maths homework, Clint introduces him to a completely new life: the heady charms of Kalsang, the Chinese restaurant forbidden by Debu's mother; the revolutionary sounds of Pink Floyd; and most importantly, the coolest, prettiest girl in town--Audrey Pariat. Audrey loves maths and detective stories, just like Debu, and does not make him feel awkward or exotic. Together, the three of them look set to embark on many adventures. But when tensions between the Khasi and Bengali communities boil over, Shillong becomes a battlefield--old neighbours become outsiders and the limits of friendship are challenged.With crackling energy, Nilanjan P. Choudhury immerses us in the tumultuous lives of Debu, his friends and his family, and their attempts to find love and belonging. Written with uncommon warmth, humour and a delightful evocation of place, Shillong Times is an exhilarating coming-of-age story--showing us how friendship can eclipse the hardened enmities of adulthood.

'Yesterday, by the grace of Allah, I, Mehr-un-nissa, daughter of Mirza Ghiyas Beg and Asmat Begum, completed thirteen years of existence on this earth... Thirteen years...I'm not sure how pleased I am to have reached this significant age.' Long before she became Nur Jahan--Emperor Jahangir's last wife and the most influential Mughal queen--she was Mehr-un-nissa. Born to Persian refugees who attained eminence at the Mughal court, Mehr-un-nissa grew up on the fringes of Emperor Akbar's court in Agra, Kabul and Lahore. In this fictional diary, Deepa Agarwal gives us a glimpse into the queen's teenage years: how she grows into a strong and passionate young woman; her love for poetry and writing; and her interest in the larger world around her. Her diary also describes the Mughal world through the eyes of a young girl: the vibrant Meena Bazaars; the elaborate festival celebrations; and the intricacies of life in the zenana. But above all, her diary records her ambition to meet the love of her life and also to carve a place for herself in history. A fascinating blend of history and fiction, The Teenage Diary of Nur Jahan brings alive a bygone age in a unique and captivating manner for young readers.

Is Jwala Kumar a bird? A bat? A chameleon? Or is he something no one has ever seen before? And did he really just fall out of the sky into Champakbagh?Mohan Chandar lives with his wife and three children in the tiny and remote village of Champakbagh. One day, he rescues a strange creature from the storm that is raging outside. When he brings the creature home, the family is astonished. What sort of animal is this? Is he friendly? What does he eat? Where will he sleep? They name him Jwala Kumar, and as the days go by, they discover that Jwala Kumar is no ordinary animal. He has special powers that he uses to help his human family in their times of need. When the days are dark and hope seems to dim, Jwala Kumar lights up their lives in many ways. But who is Jwala Kumar and will he stay forever? Jwala Kumar and the Gift of Fire is a captivating story of innocence and friendship, of magic and love, and of gifts that last a lifetime.

Tigers don't talk (well, at least not in 'people' language). Tigers don't have names either. But then T-Cub is a very special tiger cub and he wants to tell you his story. It's about his life in a forest in India, and his animal friends (and foes) including monkeys, peacocks and elephants.T-Cub is naughty, curious, lovable and brave (and sometimes scared too!). He is living the good life of a wild tiger--prowling the forest, loved by his Ma, teased by his sister. He is learning the ways of the jungle, to hunt, to be a tiger... And then one day his mother vanishes, and T-Cub learns another lesson--it isn't easy being a tiger.

A brilliant collection of profiles of 20 trailblazing Indians who changed the world with their ideas, innovation and discoveries. For over 3000 years, the Indian subcontinent has contributed to fields as diverse as mathematics and science, spirituality and philosophy, as well as music and literature. In this absorbing book, Shruthi Rao profiles 20 legendary Indians who dared to think differently and changed the world--from starting a new religion based on the principles of compassion and peace; to creating the first set of rules for grammar; to discovering the existence of black holes, and so much more. 20 Indians Who Changed the World is as informative and well-researched as it is inspiring, a book every Indian can read with pride. Amartya Sen Ashoka Bhaskara II (Bhaskaracharya) Buddha C.V. Raman Faqir Chand Kohli Har Gobind Khorana Indra K. Nooyi Jawaharlal Nehru Kalpana Chawla Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Mother Teresa Narinder Singh Kapany Pandit Ravi Shankar Panini Rabindranath Tagore Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar Swami Vivekananda Tipu Sultan Venkatraman Ramakrishnan

A lyrical and gripping read that captures the drama and intrigues in the Mughal empire at the height of its glory. It is 1626, and Jahanara is in Mandu, central India. Her father, Prince Khurram--who will later become Emperor Shah Jahan--has fallen out of favour with Emperor Jahangir, and now lives in the Deccan with his wife Arjamand Bano and their five children. As events unfold around her, Jahanara records them in her diary--her father's reaction to his exile; Empress Nur Jahan's demand that Jahanara's brothers be sent to her court as hostages; the conspiracies in faraway Agra and Lahore as Jahangir slides into ill-health; and her own growth as a sensitive writer and poet. Then one day, her father rides away to capture the Mughal throne, paving the way for Jahanara to return to her beloved Agra. This fictional diary recreates the drama of ambition, intrigue and loyalty that marked the Mughal empire at the height of its glory. As young Jahanara witnesses her father's rise to the throne, she also contemplates the incredible cruelty that men inflict on each other, and the love and tenderness that will finally redeem all. Gripping and lyrical, The Teenage Diary of Jahanara brings to life a time we only read about in history books.

'One of the most challenging voices in contemporary young adult literature.'--Anthony HorowitzWho is the Other? Is it you? Is it me? Is it all of us?Childhood and teenage years--adults insist they are the best time. They cotton wool adolescence in soft lights, ignoring the heartaches and shadows. In this collection of stories, award-winning writer Paro Anand exposes the secrets and sorrows--and courage--that are part of today's life. A girl dealing with grief; another who is witness to a horrible assault on a woman in broad daylight; a boy who pushes himself to the brink of extinction; teenagers coming to terms with their otherness. Her stories ask, how do you tell a friend that you are different from everyone else in a deep, fundamental way? How do you go back to school and face friends and teachers when your own family has betrayed you? And when you put your faith in Superman, does he deliver when the bullies come calling?Dark yet uplifting, unflinching yet deeply positive, these stories are a searing portrayal of the minds of today's teenagers. In Paro Anand's The Other, we are forced to examine our actions and inactions and every reader will find a fragment of themselves in the stories. It is a book every young adult and adult must read.

On a hot afternoon, a boy sitting in his garden suddenly finds himself transported into a land full of ridiculous creatures talking absurdly. There is the cat that was a hanky. The raven who is an accountant. The old men Uto and Booto who are as bald as eggs and claim to be thirteen years old. And then a sudden commotion about a defamation suit where a barn owl is the judge. Will the crocodile, the frog and the hedgehog ever be able to present their case? And what speech will the billy goat Wren and Baartin BA bleat in the end? Sukumar Ray’s classic work of nonsense, Haw-Jaw-Baw-Raw-Law, has entertained children and adults for almost a century now. Guaranteed to send you into side-splitting laughter, this iconic piece of literature now appears in an exuberant translation for the modern reader, accompanied by the author’s original illustrations.